Cruising with kids has become one of our family’s favourite things to do. Despite initially worrying that we would feel trapped or would feel our independent travelling badge would have to be resigned, we took our first week long cruise and were instantly hooked. We’ve become one of the many cruising families ever since. There is something about family cruises which just allows every member of the family to really relax. The kids are always happy to go off to the kids clubs on board and while they’re there we’ve had meals together or read a book on the balcony. We quickly realised our independent wanderlust didn’t need to be curbed by taking cruises for kids either, as soon as we hit the ports we usually take off on our own to explore. We’ve put together our cruising for kids guide based on all of our experiences and rounded up the best cruises for kids, including the best family cruises where there’s something for every member of the family. You can use the headings below to jump to different sections about kid friendly cruises (including the best cruise lines for families as well as port stop inspiration) or read through the whole thing for a big, blast of cruising with kids inspiration. Our reviews work if you’re looking for a cruise for a family of 5 which we are but we also point out places where you can get cabins for larger families, or smaller ones. So whether you’re looking for the best cruises for toddlers or the best cruises for teens we will have something to inspire you.
Table of Contents
Best cruise lines for kids / Best European cruises for families:
We have tried out three of the main cruise liners that operate family friendly cruises out of the UK and Europe.
Cruises for children – MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises are very different from lots of the main operators. They have a real mix of guests from across Europe on-board, meaning the announcements are read out in several languages.
Their cruises start at all the various port stops so as the ship travels around various locations across the Mediterranean, groups will embark and disembark at each stop. This keeps the cruise fresh with a real mix of passengers, which we loved.
The food on MSC is good. Their pizzeria is particularly great and they have a nice range of port stops.
We thought their kids clubs were nicely put together and the variety of activities on board for little ones great.
When you want to spend some time as a family there’s lots to do too. And plenty of kids focused fun with a dedicated kids water park on the top deck of some ships.
Read more:
A review of a 7 day cruise on MSC Preziosa around the Mediterranean
On MSC’s website here
Best family cruise ships – P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises are one of our favourites. They exude quality and have echoes of a travel experience from yesteryear in all the absolute best possible ways.
The cruise liners from P&O always feel beautifully designed and well looked after. The staff can’t do enough to help and the food is absolutely outstanding.
The kids clubs on P&O Cruises are set out for different age groups including a teenage one so there really is something for everyone and very well put together.
With great off shore trips, a variety of bars, destination restaurants, visits from celebrity chefs, wine experts and some great shows for families in the evenings there’s so much that you will love with P&O.
Read more:
A review of a 14 day cruise on P&O Cruises Ventura around the Canary Islands
A review of a 14 day cruise on P&O Cruises Azura around the Mediterranean
A review of a 7 day cruise on P&O Cruises Ventura around Italy
A review of P&O Cruises Ventura ship
On P&O Cruises website here
Best Royal Caribbean ship for kids
Royal Caribbean are the fun cruise liner where you can enjoy lots of onboard facilities and entertainment.
There are lots of restaurants on board Royal Caribbean ships and they have more of a feel of being a party and seriously geared up for families.
We haven’t take a full cruise with Royal Caribbean but have been on board their ships for weekends to get to know them. So our posts are from this perspective rather than an extended period away.
One of the real stand out differences of the Royal Caribbean boats is their size. There’s simply so much to explore and enjoy.
From zip lines to merry-go-rounds, areas which feel like you could be in a city park, and even surfing and sky diving experiences. You and your kids will treasure and remember every moment.
Read more:
On board Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas
On board Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s website here
Cruising with kids – Travelogues:
We have written travelogues, diaries of our time away on some of our cruises.
These are an insight into the day to day life on board, some of the port stops we visited. And an insight in to why we find cruises to be so wonderful for families.
Read more:
Travelogue of P&O Cruises around the Mediterranean
A travelogue of P&O Cruises around the Canary Islands, Lisbon and Madeira
Travelogue of MSC Cruises around the Mediterranean
Child-friendly cruises – our top tips:
We have put together a few handy articles on tips to make your family cruise holidays go brilliantly. If you’re planning to take your first cruise check them out here –
1. Use the kids club even if it’s just for half an hour
The kids clubs are fantastic and generally available to use from 9am until around 11pm.
Our children loved spending time in them and were always talking about the fun they’d had and begging us to take them back.
We realised we could drop them off and just go and have a cocktail in the evening or to go and eat dinner. They are there to make use of and a brilliant resource for children.
2. Buy a drink / ice cream card – top tips on cruising with kids
You can buy drinks by the glass but on many cruises you can also sign up for a drinks cards. These mean you can keep track of your spending and also not pay as much per drink.
The same with ice cream and some cruises let you buy a combined drinks and ice cream card to get even better value.
3. Rent your pushchair from the cruise
It’s worth checking beforehand but on our cruise we were able to borrow a stroller from the kid’s club free of charge.
This was SO useful on our long days out as it meant our two year old could have his naps in it while we could keep sightseeing. But also the older children could take it in turns to rest their legs on these days of walking.
We also used it for the rest of the time we were on board which was really handy.
4. Always take all of the cruise details with you when you go off for the day
We had one occasion when the train we were on broke down and we very nearly missed the boat. It was literally minutes before the door closed that we arrived looking sweaty, harassed and ready to collapse.
As we tried to direct the taxi driver we realised we didn’t even know exactly where our boat had docked. Let alone a phone number to call if we had missed it.
Definitely take everything with you. We certainly learnt our lesson that day.
5. The balcony can get a bit windy
Another first cruise error we made. Leaving swimsuits to dry on our balcony when we set sail.
Yes, I know, it sounds obvious now. We thought it was the perfect place to leave them out in the air but when we realised they had disappeared we were lucky to retrieve them half under the balcony glass and hanging down the side of the boat.
6. Talking of that nearly missed boat…
Decide what time you want to be back at the boat and then leave at least an extra hour. There is nothing worse than the very real stress that you are about to miss the boat which is setting off for two nights and a day at sea….
7. Book excursions early – one of our top tips on cruising with kids
They do get booked up. So have a look through what’s on and if you know you want to go on a particular excursion then book early.
We found that while costs can sometimes seem higher on the official tours they usually include the entrance fee to any attractions and can also include lunch.
And sometimes it’s nice to not have to negotiate with taxi drivers. As well as be guaranteed to make the boat (yep, I’m slightly obsessed with this).
There are times when it’s just as easy and cheaper to do it yourself but definitely do your research first.
8. Don’t feel you have to pack clean clothes for every day (cruising with kids)
There are washing machines that are free to use as well as tumble driers.
You can pick up washing liquid in the shop or bring a small travel pack with you if you know you’re going to want to do some washing.
9. Don’t panic about forgetting something…
There will be shops on board selling everything from toiletries to chocolate and nappies to medicines.
There’s also clothes, bags, sunglasses etc. to buy. That said, bring what you can as it’s inevitably more expensive but there’s no need to panic as most things can be bought.
10. Look out for specials when onboard (cruising with kids tips)
Often there can be an embarkation day special like extra minutes on your internet if you book that day or a bottle of wine for dinner if you reserve a table for the first few days.
These are great times to book these to get a little bit extra.
European port stops – cruising with kids
We love cruises around Europe as it’s such an inspiring location full of amazing port stops. These are some of our favourites that you may find on your European cruise.
Gibraltar
A day of exploration on Gibraltar with kids
Things to do in Gibraltar with kids
Italy – cruising with kids
Livorno, Italy
Naples – cruising with kids
Visiting the oldest pizzeria in the world – Naples
Venice
Exploring Cannaregio and the back streets of Venice
Madeira – cruising with kids
The best things to do in Madeira with kids
Monaco
A day in Monte Carlo with kids
Portugal – cruising with kids
Our guide to Portugal with kids
Your questions about cruising with children answered
What’s the food like onboard?
We have always found the food to be great. It obviously varies between cruise liners and some are outstanding while others have been fine. But I would say that there’s always enough variety on board, particularly for someone like me who can be a bit picky.
The kids love the food as there’s plenty for them with lots of choice. And some cruise liners go out of their way with children’s teas etc. which can really help.
Do you feel trapped (cruising with kids)?
This is probably the question I get asked most and I can honestly say that I have never felt trapped.
There is always so much going on and so many things to do that there isn’t a chance to feel trapped. And the port stops are so plentiful that sometimes it feels like you’re hardly on board.
My children really don’t like kids clubs, will there be enough for them to do?
First I would say that my children didn’t like kids clubs before we went on our first cruise but once they gave them a go they were hooked.
My daughter in particular really loves the opportunity to make new friends and get to play.
That said if your children are not convinced you don’t have to be concerned. There are so many alternative activities from swimming to shuffleboard.
There are shows and great entertainment for all the family and as I said before there are so many other activities going on there’s plenty for kids to do aside from the kids clubs.
What are the kid’s clubs like?
Kids club can really vary. We have been to some that have been all ages of kids in together as it’s been quieter on board and these can feel more like craft activity times. Others are more organised by age group with a very structured itinerary of activities. It’s best to do your research and read some reviews to see which kids club would suit your family.
Do you just feel part of a large tour all of the time (cruising with kids)?
Not at all. We consider ourselves to be very independent travellers and even when we take a cruise we maintain this outlook.
We often won’t book port stops with the cruise liner and as soon as the ship docks we head out on our own to explore as a family.
If you are more of a nervous or first time traveller then you can take the port stops with the cruise company. These will ensure you will be back in time for the ship to leave which can feel reassuring.
Is it expensive once you’re on board? Cruising with kids questions
It doesn’t have to be, although certainly costs can add up.
There are plenty of ways you can spend money, on drinks, tours, the internet etc. But the kids clubs are free, on some cruise liners you can take your own drinks on board, and at port stops you can travel independently. So there are many ways you can limit what you spend on board.
What’s the situation with internet access? I don’t think I could live without my laptop
Cruises are a great way to unplug and relax but If you really can’t live without your laptop (and I am certainly one of these people) then don’t despair, the internet is accessible. But at a cost which obviously varies from liner to liner.
Most cruises have embarkation day deals so look out for these for money off or extra free minutes.
But however many minutes you buy you have to accept that it’s not always that fast, to say the least. And many of those precious minutes can be used up just waiting for it to stop whirring around.
I found that on port stops I could get relatively cheap access through my mobile phone provider. And then log on to the internet either on days out or while the boat was waiting to leave the port.
Is the entertainment really cheesy?!
No, not at all. We have found entertainment on board to be of a really high standard. From ice dancing shows to theatre productions. But like everything on board you can take it or leave it and you don’t have to feel that you have to go along to everything if it’s not your cup of tea.
Are cruises not really expensive (cruising with kids)?
No, you can get some great deals on cruises. And when you work out the cost of all the travelling you get to experience, the food that’s included and entertainment they can actually work out as a really good value holiday.
Cruising with kids – did you feel sea sick at all?
For the absolute most part no. I am going to be completely honest with this post and there have been times, over the notorious Bay of Biscay where I have felt a little queasy on a very rough crossing. But around the Mediterranean I have never felt that way. The ships are really stable and rarely can you feel any movement at all. If you are worried you can read up on tips to beat sea sickness beforehand.
Do you have to get dressed up for dinner?
No. This was something I was worried about and on our first cruise we decided not to dress up and then when we were on board we felt a bit left out. There were plenty of other families not dressing up and lots of options of places to dine if you don’t but it actually seemed really good fun. The next time we cruised we joined in and got dressed up and really enjoyed it. But it’s completely up to you. If you don’t want to you don’t have to.
Does it feel safe on board? Could the children fall overboard?
I have been asked this a couple of times and I have never felt unsafe on board.
The walkways are often covered and even on the ones that aren’t the landings have really high barriers, taller than the children so it simply isn’t possible for them to fall overboard.
If you’ve got any questions about cruising with children then post them below and I’ll add them in and answer them.
What My Children Say About…cruising with kids
Often after our cruises we interview the children afterwards to find out what they enjoyed and what they didn’t from the trips we’ve taken. I really like these posts as they often give a really different perspective on the trip from mine.
P&O Cruise to the Canary Islands – cruising with kids
We’ve loved looking back on our summer cruise around the Canary Islands, Madeira and Portugal with P&O Cruises and talking as a family about all the fun we got up to this time around on Ventura. We enjoyed throwing ourselves into all the activities on board and my children had the most fun they could cram into a fortnight. Here are their thoughts of their time on board Ventura and their tips for other children and families who are planning a trip with P&O: 1. What did you think about the cruise? N (age 10) “It was amazing. I loved all the food on board especially the veggie burgers and chips! The pools were especially great, I had so much fun in them. I liked turning up at new places each day and then getting back on board ready for a swim. I also liked the P&O bears that we got.” T (age 8) “It was very exciting. It reminded me of the first time I got on a cruise which was also on Ventura. I couldn’t wait to explore the ship. It was lots of fun swimming in the pools and I loved the views of the sea, especially when I saw some dolphins.”
M (age 5) “I really liked it. I liked playing with my brother and sister in the pool and going to the kids club with all their games.” 2. What was your favourite part of the cruise? N (age 10) “Really it was the whole thing! The kids clubs were fun and the meals on board were really good.” T (age 8) “I think the shows were my favourite part of the cruise. The best was Paradise City which I loved because of the music and the lights.” M (age 5) “Having fish, peas and smiley faces for dinner. I liked having ice cream with all those sprinkles.” 3. What did you like about the kids club? N (age 10) “All the fun activities that they did on board like making mocktails and casino night! They had play stations to play on and it was easy to make friends with everyone.” T (age 8) “It was lots of fun – I loved all of the themes like the pirate day which was fun and there was lots of time to play at free time. I liked the party at the beginning and I enjoyed going to see the movie at the end of the day.” 4. What other activities did you enjoy on the cruise? N (age 10) “I liked the fete on board (in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust) with all the games which you could play like hook a duck. I really liked going to all the shows on board, and the ventriloquist was one of the best. He was really funny.” T (age 8) “I liked swimming and the shuffleboard. I really enjoyed playing with my brothers in the pool and taking my fun ball in too.” 5. What did you think of the food on board? N (age 10) “It was really nice. I liked all the different selection of food that you could choose from. My favourite was the purple potato gnocchi. I liked Marco Pierre White’s restaurant and how he had lots of different ideas about food – like the tomato flavour ice lolly!” T (age 8) “It was very tasty and I especially liked trying new things. The smoothies each day were lovely and I tried lots of new types of fish. They were very tasty.”
6. Which was your favourite port stop we went to? N (age 10) “Lanzarote was my favourite because it was a lovely town and there was so much to do there.We went to the beach which was really hot and sandy. We all paddled in the water to cool off. We had tapas there and we looked around the town which was good too.”
T (age 8) “Madeira was very sunny and I loved swimming in the pool at Reid’s Hotel. I also liked seeing lizards climbing on the rocks and in the park when we were walking to the hotel. Even though it was a long walk it was fun.”
M (age 5) “I liked digging in the black sand (in La Palma) and the pirate ship we saw in Madeira.” 7. Was there anything you didn’t like? N (age 10) “I liked everything, oh, but I didn’t like leaving at the end of the trip and saying goodbye to Ventura.” T (age 8) “When I left my hat behind in Tenerife and we only realised when we got back to the ship. My dad went back to get it though so I was happy in the end.” 8. Would you like to go on another cruise? N (age 10) “Yes! It would be such a treat to go back on a P&O cruise! They are so nice.” T (age 8) “Definitely! It is so much fun and there is lots to do on board.” M (age 5) “Yes! Because it is lots of fun. I did like swimming in the pools especially when I got swished around.” 9. What would you say to other children thinking of going on this cruise? N (age 10) “You should definitely go on board. There is so much to do, especially in the kids clubs and you can make so many friends. Go and try out the table tennis and shuffleboard on the decks.” T (age 8) “I think that it is a brilliant idea! Make sure that you definitely trying new things. Don’t miss the swimming, the shuffleboard, the shows are brilliant and you should go along to them.”
P&O cruise to Italy & Croatia
We took a cruise with P&O around Italy and Croatia on the beautiful boat, The Ventura. This was our first time cruising and this is what our children, aged 7 and 5, thought of it in their own words – 1. What did you think about the cruise to Italy & Croatia? T (5) – Brilliant. It was so good. I loved it. N (7) – It was amazing because I liked that you could have food whenever you wanted! 2. What was your favourite part of the cruise? T (5) My best part was when I went to the Reef [the kid’s club] and we all sang songs. N (7) The Reef.
3. What did you like about the Reef? T (5) We played so many games. It was so much fun and I got to play, play, play and I could do whatever I wanted – not like school where you have to just do one activity – here you could play with whatever you liked. N (7) I liked that we did dancing. And I loved the pirate day when you get to do lots of things like a treasure hunt and make pirate hats and maps. We even had pirate cake! 4. What did you think of the food on the Ventura? T (5) It was delicious – I never wanted to stop eating it. I LOVED my tappy egg [boiled egg!]. My best part was when Noddy came to breakfast and also when we were eating and Little Miss Sunshine came too. N (7) It was so good. I loved my smoked salmon, fried egg and bagel in the The White Room. Oh and I loved the chocolate cake we had delivered to our room that night when we were feeling hungry.
5. Which was your favourite city we went to? T (5) My favourite has got to be Venice…and Pompeii. N (7) I liked Venice. 6. What did you like about it? T (5) I really liked going on the boat [gondola] and I liked seeing the Romans [just to clarify, we didn’t actually see any Romans]…and I liked jumping between the stones. N (7) I loved going on the gondola. I thought Venice looked so lovely from the boat.
7. Would you like to go on another cruise? T (5) I would like to if it was the same cruise though please. N (7) I would like to go on another cruise BUT I would love to go on the same one. 8. What would you say to someone thinking of going on this cruise? T (5) I’d say it was so good you’ve got to go there. N (7) If you go on it then look out for the Reef – it’s lots of fun.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide and are ready to start cruising with kids.
Wow this looks amazing, cruises are not a holiday we have considered… now discussing with husband the idea.
I would love to go on a cruise! There seems like there is so much for families to enjoy – I’d love to hear how to get some good deals as they always seem quite pricey?
I went on my very first ever cruise last year and loved it. I would LOVE to take my kids on a cruise – there’s just so much on offer!
It’s amazing how much stuff there is to do on a cruise ship, it’s definitely something I’d love to do one day x
what a wonderful experience to share with your kiddos 🙂 I bet they will remember this for a really long time!!
I always wondered how cruises would keep children occupied as it must be harder on a ship than land. It’s great there are a wide range of activities and kids clubs available.
This is a great post for anyone thinking of cruising with their children. I havent been on a cruise before, like you I expected to feel a bit trapped. I never thought about the exploring I could do once it docks though. Definitely something to think about.
I’ve never tried cruising yet – but looks like such a children friendly way of going on holiday. The on board entertainment seems super convenient.
Like you, we thought we would feel hemmed in on a cruise ship, but we absolutley love it – hoping to do another very soon